Hungry Jack Lake

How big is Hungry Jack Lake?

How deep is Hungry Jack Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Hungry Jack Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Hungry Jack Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Hungry Jack Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Hungry Jack Lake

Are there boat launches on Hungry Jack Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Hungry Jack Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Hungry Jack Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Hungry Jack Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

Hungry Jack Lake is part of a cluster of medium sized easily-accessed lakes about 30 road miles from Grand Marais. It is a moderately developed lake, with two resorts and several cabins on its shores. The lake lacks a public boat launch; public access is limited to a carry-down trail. Nevertheless, use of this lake by anglers has been fairly high, historically.

In the current (2014) lake management plan (LMP) primary and secondary management species in Hungry Jack Lake are Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. The long range goal for Walleye is a population with a minimum gill net catch of 3.0 fish/set, with no size goal set. The goal for Smallmouth Bass is to maintain a minimum proportional size distribution (PSD; stock = 7 in, quality = 11 in) of 50 for fish taken by angling, with a minimum gill net catch of 1.0 fish/set. The Smallmouth Bass population in this lake has been managed under special regulations since 1996; first an 11-inch maximum size limit, then a 12-inch maximum size limit, and now (since 2018), a 14-inch maximum size limit, with the harvest of one fish over 20 inches allowed. The 2020 survey was the second of three scheduled in the 2014 LMP to determine whether an increase in the walleye stocking rate that began in 2005 had resulted in an increase in walleye gill net catches, and to evaluate the 2018 change in the Smallmouth Bass regulation. The first survey was completed as planned in 2016.

Walleye numbers appeared to have been fairly high in 2020, as did the average size of Walleye taken in gill nets and trap nets. The Walleye gill net catch goal was met in 2020, as it was in 2016. Walleye taken in gill nets in 2020 ranged in length from 10.8 to 25.6 inches, with about a third of the catch over 20 inches. Nine year classes (fish 3-12 years old) were included in the catch. Natural year classes apparently produced in 2016, 2014, and 2010 contributed a few fish to the catch, but years in which fingerlings were stocked accounted for 86% of the Walleye taken in this survey. Some of those fish may have been naturally produced, but consistent higher strengths of stocked year classes indicated stocking since 2009 had contributing substantially to the walleye population. Walleye growth had been average or better for the area; fish reached a mean length of 17.6 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 16.5 inches. Good Walleye growth was likely due to the presence of fairly high numbers of Yellow Perch, and access to a Rainbow Smelt forage base of unknown size.

This survey provided more evidence that stocking Walleye fingerlings at a higher rate (1.0 lb/littoral acre/year) since 2005 had resulted in a modest increase in Walleye abundance in this lake. Stocked year classes apparently made fairly strong contributions to catches in 2016 and 2020. As a result catches in both years met the Walleye goal in this lake for the first time since 2001.

Hungry Jack Lake continued to support a high-quality Smallmouth Bass population in 2020. The gill net catch goal was not met in 2020, but it was clear from gill and trap net length distributions that the lake was still producing good numbers of larger Smallmouth Bass. The mean weight for Smallmouth Bass taken in gill nets in 2020 (2.47 lb/fish) was the highest ever seen in this lake historically, mainly because no fish under 14 inches were sampled.

Good numbers of larger-than-average sized Northern Pike were present in Hungry Jack Lake in 2020. The Northern Pike gill net catch was close to the median for a Class 3 lake, was similar to the catch seen in 2016, and was one of the higher catches observed in this lake since 1984. All of the Northern Pike taken in gill nets were over 20 inches in length, and most were over 24 inches (up to 32.8 inches).

Hungry Jack is one of just a small number of lakes in this area supporting significant Bluegill populations. Bluegill appeared to have been abundant in 2020, with enough larger fish present to drive some good fishing. The 2020 Bluegill trap net catch was well above the third quartile for the lake class, and was by far the highest ever seen in this lake. About 19% of Bluegill sampled in trap nets exceeded six inches in length, and several fish over eight inches were sampled. A few Hybrid Sunfish were also sampled in 2020, and some of those fish also exceeded eight inches in length.

Yellow Perch were fairly abundant in Hungry Jack Lake in 2020, although most were small. The Yellow Perch gill net catch was one of the higher catches seen in this lake since 1988, and was above the normal range for a lake of this type. Although not supporting much angling opportunity, Yellow Perch were important as a key component of the forage base for Walleye and Northern Pike in this lake.

Are there any state parks near Hungry Jack Lake?